Engine starter



Feb. 27, 1923.

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ENGINE STARTER Feb' 27, 1923.

man Nov. 15. 1919'.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Feb. 27, 1923. 1,446,852.

W. L. MCGRATH.

ENGINE STARTER.

HLED Nov. 15.1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ramas Feb. 27, i923.

p WILLIAM L. IVICGRATH, ELMIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'JI'O` ECLIPSE MACHINE COMPANY, 0F ELIMIRA, NEW YORK, A CGRPORTION 0F NEW YORK.

ENGINE STARTER.

Application led November 15, 1919, Serial No. 338,290. A I

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, WILLIAM L. MCGRATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, in the county of Chemung and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine Starters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an engine starter used more particularly for the purpose of starting an internal combustion engine and has for its general object the provision of a novel and eiicient construction of the drive or transmission portion thereof. My drive is of the type known as the Eclipse-Bendix characterized by a driving shaft driven directly or indirectly by the prime mover, such as an electric motor, a driven shaft, such as a screw shaft operatively connected with the driving shaft by a yielding driving connection, such as a drive spring, anda driving member such asa pinion, mounted on the screw shaft forlongitudinal move nient thereon for advancement to engagement with an engine member, such -as the fly wheel, and for rotary movement therewith after such engagement. The more specific object of my invention is to provide between the two shaftsva friction clutch in additionto the drive spring adapted more particularly to protect the spring against the effect of an excessive torque, beyond the safety limit of such spring, and also to protect the other parts ofthe starter from inu u y Iltiri vtheI drawings, Figplis a sectional elevation of an engine starter e-mbodying my invention; Figs. 2, 3, 4f and 5 sections on the corresponding section lines of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 an elevation off the engaging ends of the two driving sleeves; and Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 detail views of these two sleeves.

The drive illustrated is one of a number in which my invention may be embodied. Also, while Ihave shown the single reduction type andthe outboard type of drive, it will be understood that myl invention is applicable to the double reduction type and the inboard type of drive.

Describing .the construction shown, the electric motor 1 has an extended armature shaft 2, forming a driving shaft, on which are mounted the several parts comprising the drive. Upon the inner ortionv of the shaft 2 there is mounted an secured thereto a driving element in the form of a sleeve and preferably comprising two parts or sleeves 3 and 4, although a-,single part would satisfy my invention in its broader aspect. rlhe sleeve 3 is secured to the, shaft 2 in suitable manner as by the transverse pin 5, so that such sleeve has a fixed relationship to the shaft. This sleeve has a flanged head 6 provided with inclined or cam jaws 7 for a purpose hereinafter described. The other sleeve 4 is mounted looselyv upon the shaft 2 and capable of axial or longitudinal movement thereof. It is likewise provided with a flanged head 8 having cam jaws 9 corresponding to jaws 7 and normally engaging the same.

A driven sleeve 1() is mounted upon the sleeve 3 for rotary movement therewith and a limited rotary movement; thereof, v'and is provided with a cylindrical portion or shell 11 extending outwardly 4and over the sleeves 3 and 4. This shell isv operatively connected with the sleeve 4 by a friction clutch which here comprises a series of plates or disks 12 interlocked with longitudinal grooves 13 in the outer surface of the sleeve 4 and a series of plates or disks 14 interlocked with longivthe driving member is a pinion 19 mounted on the screw shaft for automatic longitudinal movement therewith and adapted to engage the engine member such as afly wheel 20, The screw shaft has the usual driven head 21 at one end. A

The driven sleeve 10 and the head 21 are and will drive the fly Wheel When the engine has started on its own power the pinion will -be automatically demeshed in the usual manner.

Between theesleeves 3 and 4 and the screw shaft, the torque is transmitted through the friction clutch and the drive spring. After full mesh is obtained and the pinion is in position to drive the fly wheel, the resistance causes the sleeve 4 to move longitudinally relative to the sleeve 3, owing to the cam action of the jaws 7 and 9, with the result that an increased pressure is applied to the friction clutch through the spring 17, sufficient to enable the clutch to take the load and transmit the necessary torque re quired normally. The construction is such that this pressure is less than the safety load limit of the spring, and hence the torque is transmitted through the drive spring without danger of breaking it or causing a setting thereof, and likewise other parts of the starter system are protected against injury. The pressure on the clutch through the spring 1T increases up to a predetermined point as the torque increases which causes a greater or less relative longitudinal movement of the sleeve Lt. but when a predetermined limit of torque. say di() foot pounds. is reached, as when the resistance of the fly wheel is excessive and liable to cause injur)v to or breakage of the drive. the clutch will slip and will not transmit the torque.

I claim:

l. An engine starter drive including a driving shaft, a driven shaft. said shafts being capable of angular displacement one with respect to the other. a driving member mounted on and. driven by said driven shaft. and driving means between the two shafts comprising a yielding driving connection and a friction clutch controlled by such displacement of the shafts.

2. An engine lstarter drive including a dri-ving shaft7 a driven shaft said shafts being capable of angular -displacement one with respect to the other, a driving member mounted on and driven by said driven shaft, and driving means between the two shafts comprising a yielding driving connection and a friction clutch. said friction clutch controlled by the resistance transmitted to it through said vielding driving connection.

3. An engine starter including in combination with a starting motor and a' member of the engine to be started. a drive comprising a driving member adapted to en` gage the engine member and driven by the motor, and a yielding driving connection and a friction clutch interposed in the line of transmission of power between the mo` tor and engine member and adapted to be tightened to a pre-determined point as the starting operation proceeds and to there after slip in case of abnormal resistance.

4. An engine starter including in combination with a starting motor and a mem` ber of the engine to be started, a drive comprising a driving member adapted to engage the engine member and driven by the motor, and a yielding driving connection and a friction clutch interposed in the line of transmission of power between the motor and' engine member, said clutch having a resistance predetermined to substantially equal the safety limit of the yielding driving connection.

5. An engine starter including in combination with a starting motor and a member of the engine to be started, a drive comprising a driving member adapted to engage the engine member and driven by the motor, and a drive spring and a friction clutch interposed in the line of transmission of power between the motor and engine member and controlled by the resistance transmitted to it through said drive spring.

6. An enginel starter including, in 'combination with a starting motor and a member of the engine to be started` a drive comprising a driving member adapted to engage the engine member and driven by the motor. and a coiled torsion drive spring and a friction clutch interposed in the line of transmission of power between the motor and the engine member. the spring bcing arranged concentric of the clutch.

7. An engine starter drive including a driving shaft, a driving and a driven head. the former being driven by such shaft, a friction clutch between the heads, a driven shaft, a driving member mounted thereonv for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, and a yielding driving connection between the driven head and the driven shaft. said driven head and driven shaft being capable of an angular displacement one with respect to the other and the clutch being controlled by such displacement.

8.- An engine starter drive` including a driving shaft, a driving and a driven head. the former being driven by such shaft. a. friction clutch between the heads, a. driven shaft. a driving member mount ed thereon for engagement with a member of the engine to be started. and a drive spring forming the drive connection between the driven head and the driven shaft. said driven head and driven shaft being capable of an angular displacement one with respect to the other and the clutch being controlled b v such displacement.

9. An engine starter drive including a driving shaft. a driving and a driven head, the former being driven by such shaft, a friction clutch between the heads, a driven shaft. a driving member mounted thereon for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, and a coiled drive spring having its ends anchored to the driven head and the driven shaft respectively, said driven head and driven shaft being capable of an angular displacement one with respect to the other and the clutch being controlled shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, and a yielding driving connection. between the driven head and the driven shaft, said driving head being formed in two parts normally held together with a yielding'pressure but adapted to separate; one with respect to the other.

11. An engine starter drive 'including a driving shaft, a driving and a driven head, the former being driven by su'ch shaft, a friction clutch between the heads, a driven shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for engagement with a member of theengine to be started, and a yielding driving connection between the driven head and-the driven shaft, said driving head being formed of two sleeves in axial alinement and normally held in engagement at their adjacent ends with a yielding pressure.

12. An engine starter drive including a driving shaft, a driving and a driven head, the former being driven by such shaft, a friction clutch between the heads, a driven shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, and a yielding driving connection between the driven head and the driven shaft, said driving head being formed of two sleeves in axial alinement and having at theiradjacent endsl clutch members normally in engagement.

13. An engine starter drive including a driving shaft, a driving and a driven head, the former being driven by suc-h shaft, a friction clutch between the heads, a driven shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, and a yielding driving co-nnection betweenthe driven head and the driven shaft, said driving head being formed of two sleeves in axial alinement, the first of which is secured to the driving sha-ft and the other of which is mounted to rotate therewith and partiallv thereof and to move longitudinally' thereof towards and away from the first sleeve, said friction clutch cooperating with said second sleeve.

le. An engine starter, drive including a driving shaft, a driving and a driven head, the former being driven byl such shaft, a. friction clutch between the heads, a driven shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for engagement with a. member of the engine to be started, and a yielding driving connection between the drivenhead and the driven shaft, said driving head 'being formed of two sleeves in axial alinement, the first of which is secured to the driving shaft and the other of which is mounted torotate therewith and partially thereof and to move longitudinally thereof towards and away from the first sleeve, the adjacent ends of the two sleeves having corresponding jaws yieldingly held together but tending to open and separate when the driving head is operated, and said friction clutch cooperating with said second sleeve.

15. An engine starter drive including a driving shaft, a driving and a driven head, the former being driven by such shaft, a friction clutch between the heads, a driven shaft, a. driving member mounted thereon for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, and a yielding driving connection between the driven-head and the driven shaft, said driving head being formed of two sleeves in axial alinement, the first of which is secured to the driving -pshaft and the other of which is mounted to rotate therewith and partially thereof and to move longitudinally thereof towards and away from the first sleeve, the adjacent ends of the two sleeves having corresponding jaws yieldingly held together but tending to open and separate when thei driving head is operated, and said friction clutch cooperating with said second sleeve, and a spring between the clutch and the movable sleeve.

16. An engine starter drive including a driving shaft, a driving and a driven head, the former being driven 'by such shaft, a friction clutch between the heads, a driven shaft, a driving member mounted thereon Ifor engagement with a member of the engine to be started, and a yielding driving connection between the driven head and the driven shaft, said driving head being formed of two sleeves in axial alinement, the first of which is secured to the driving shaft and the other of which is mounted to rotate therewith and partially thereof and to move longitudinally thereof towards and away from the first sleeve, the adjacent ends of the two sleeves having corresponding cam jaws.

17. An engine starter drive including a driving shaft, a driving and a driven head, the former being driven by such shaft, a friction clutch between the heads, a driven shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for engagement with al member of the engine to be started, and a yielding driving connection between the driven head and the driven shaft, consisting of a coiled driving spring anchored at its ends to the driven head and thev driven shaft respectively and encircling the two heads.

18. An engine starter drive including a driving shaft, a driving and a driven head,

the former being driven by such shaft, a friction clutch between the heads, a driven shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for engagement with 'a member of the engine to be started, and a yielding driving connection between the driven head and the driven shaft, said clutch and driving head having a relative movement, one with respect to the other.

19. An engine starter drive including a driving shaft, a driving and a driven head,

the former being driven by such shaft, a frictionA clutch between the heads,a driven shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, and a'yielding driving connection between the driven head and the driven shaft, said clutch being interlocked with the two heads, said driving connection being a coiled spring encompassing the clutch and the two heads.

20. An engine Starter drive includingr a driving shaft, a drivingvand a driven head, the former being driven by such shaft, a friction clutch between the heads, a driven shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, and a yielding driving connection between the driven head and the driven shaft, said driven head and driven shaft being capable of angular displacement one with respectto the other, said clutch comprising friction plates, one set of which cooperate with one headA and the other set with the other head, said clutch Maaate having tighteningy means controlled by said angular displacement. I e

21. An engine' starter drive including a driving shaft, a driving and a driven head, the former being driven by such shaft, a friction clutch between the heads, a driven shaft, a driving member mounted thereon `for engagement with a memberof the engine to be started, and a yielding driving connection between the driven head and the driven shaft, vsaid clutch comprising friction plates, one set of which cooperate with one head and the other set with the other head, and a spring between the plates and the driving head.

22. An engine starter drive comprising a driving shaft, a driving head secured thereto and formed as two sleeves in axial aline- Iment, one being movable relatively to the connection between the screw shaft and th driven head.

WILLIAM L. MOGRATH. 

